From Concept to Real Products

Grasping as a skill has always played an important role in biomimetic learning networks. Nature often provides amazing creativity and new solutions for industrial applications. Multiple biomimetic crawling applications have been developed in the Festo interdisciplinary research network, two of which have been further developed into batch products.
The design of adaptive gripper finger DHAS is based on the amazing behavioral characteristics of the fish tail fin. If the side of the fin is pressed, the tail fin will bend towards the pressure point, rather than away from it. The developers achieved the FinRay Effect technically through two flexible polyurethane tapes connected to each other using intermediate bridge plates ®。 The gripper fingers are sturdy and flexible, allowing for easy adaptation to the shape of the workpiece and automatic adjustment during grasping. This allows for a gentle and firm grip on vulnerable objects with irregular surfaces. DHAS has been widely used in the food industry, such as fruit and vegetable classification.

Another Adaptive Gripper DHEF, is inspired by the chameleon tongue. To capture prey, a chameleon can make its tongue pop out like a rubber band. Before the tongue touches the insect, the center of the tongue stretches back while the edge continues to move forward. As a result, the tongue of a chameleon can match the shape and size of various prey, and can be securely wrapped. An important component of the DHEF gripper is a silicone cap designed to mimic the tongue of a chameleon, slightly overfilled, that can be flexibly flipped according to the shape of the object, thereby wrapping and grasping the object. By using proportional valves for corresponding control, it is possible to grasp multiple objects, such as screws, squares, or a pen.